Inquest Hears Epileptic Fit May Have Triggered Fatal Dog Attack

An inquest has been informed that a woman fatally attacked by her own dog might have experienced an epileptic seizure, which could have initiated the assault. Kelly Reilly, who reportedly cherished her dog “like a baby,” sustained severe head and throat injuries on July 22 within her maisonette located on Wexford Road, Wood End, as detailed at Coventry Coroner’s Court. On Tuesday, area coroner Delroy Henry determined her death to be an accident. This conclusion followed testimony indicating that Ms. Reilly, aged 33, frequently experienced sudden seizures “out of the blue,” leading to collapses during which she had “no recollection or control.” Kirsty Reilly, her sister, testified that the American bulldog named Mendoza had never previously displayed aggressive tendencies. She informed the court that the animal was adopted as a puppy in 2022. Kirsty Reilly stated, “She loved it literally like a baby.” She added, “She was a lovely dog and if Kelly did not love her as much as she did I would have had her.” Describing the dog further, she said, “She was really nice. She would sleep with Kelly in her bedroom.” Ms. Reilly also mentioned that her sister had experienced two seizures within the six to seven weeks preceding her death, with one episode lasting eight minutes. Dr. Hesham El-Daly, a consultant pathologist who conducted the post-mortem examination, reported that Kelly Reilly had bruising on her head from a fall and sustained “significant” injuries consistent with a dog bite, including a severed throat. Dr. El-Daly concurred that Ms. Reilly showed no defensive injuries, suggesting the attack was either “quick and ferocious” or that she was “not in control of her body,” a characteristic associated with epilepsy. In his concluding remarks for the inquest, Mr. Henry stated: “Tragedy comes along through unintended actions with wholly unintended consequences, and in my mind that’s what happened with Kelly here.” He further added: “I have seen before me a strong family demonstrating a strength by attending this inquest and the strength to listen to the evidence. “I am sure that Kelly would be really proud of you.” For updates, follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. Please note, the BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.